Bible Strands
Luke 14:27
And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses a large crowd that has been following him, framing his teaching between a call to prioritize him over family and a parable about counting the cost of construction. He delivers these words as a direct, non-negotiable condition for anyone claiming to be his disciple.
The words — The Greek verb βαστάζει (bastazei) literally means to bear or carry, paired with σταυρὸν (stauron) for cross. The reflexive pronoun ἑαυτοῦ (he'autou) specifies that the cross belongs to the individual disciple rather than a generic burden.
The thread — This formulation runs parallel to Matthew 10:38, Luke 9:23, and Matthew 16:24, where Jesus repeatedly links cross-bearing with following him. These passages collectively establish the cross as the required instrument of discipleship across the Gospels.
Why it lands — The text demands that a prospective disciple actively bear their own cross and pursue Jesus without exception. It requires a concrete commitment that must precede any claim to belonging to him.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Cross-references
- Matthew 10:38 and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.
- Luke 9:23 Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
- Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
- Mark 10:21 Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
- Mark 8:34 Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
- 2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
- Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
- Matthew 13:21 But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
- John 19:17 Carrying His own cross, He went out to The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.
- 2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.